Flexible tie



E. SCHUMM FLEXIBLE TIE Sept. 8, 1964 '2 Speets-Shet 1 Filed May 51, 1961F/G/ 5 i 2 FIG 2 x 1 v 2 r 3 3 INVENTOR- ZzinZ. i Quad/um.

United States Patent 3,147,522 FLELE TIE Erich Schamrn, Siegelshergertrasse 17, Murrhardt, Wurtternberg, Germany Filed May 31, 1961, Ser. No.113,729 Claims priority, application, Germany, .lune 1, 1960, Sch 27,97615 Claims. (Cl. 2416) The present invention relates to a tighteningdevice adapted to be tightened in form of a loop about an article andthis tightening device may also be used as a closure member for closing,for instance, the open end of a bag.

It is one object of the present invention to provide for a tighteningdevice which can be easily formed into a loop.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for atightening device which can be easily formed into a loop and in whichthe loop, when tightened about an article, will be prevented fromloosening again under the influence of the longitudinal stress impartedthereto during tightening.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for atightening device which can be easily formed into a loop which does notopen under the influence of the longitudinal stress imparted to thedevice during tightening of the loop, but which can be convenientlyopened if desired, preferably without destroying any part of thetightening device, so that the latter may be reused again.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide forsuch a tightening device which is constructed in such a manner so as tolend itself to massmanufacture at very reasonable cost.

With these objects in view the tightening device of the presentinvention mainly comprises an elongated strip of elastically stretchablematerial having a main portion of a given cross-section and an enlargedend portion at one end of the strip of a width and thickness greaterthan that of the main portion. The enlarged end portion is formed withan elongated aperture extending in longitudinal direction of the striptherethrough and having in unstressed condition a cross-sectionsubstantially equal to the cross-section of the main portion of thestrip so that the other end of the strip can be drawn through theaperture to form the strip into a loop with part of the main portion ofthe strip extending beyond the loop.

To facilitate the forming of the elongated strip into a loop, theelongated strip is preferably formed in the region of one end of thestrip with a narrow portion of a width smaller than that of the mainportion and the enlarged end portion of the strip at the other endthereof is preferably formed with an elongated slot of substantiallyT-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal direction of the stripand having a transversely extending wide base portion of a cross-sectionsubstantially equal to the cross-section of the main portion of thestrip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than thewidth of said main portion, but greater than that of the narrow stripportion, so that the narrow strip portion may be inserted through thenarrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawnin longitudinal direction through the base portion of the slot to form aloop with part of the main portion extending beyond the loop.

To provide for a more secure holding of the loop in tightened position,the main portion of the strip may also be provided with a plurality ofsaw-tooth shaped serrations or projections and the enlarged end portionof the strip may be provided with abutment means for engagement with atleast one of these projections for preventing, after the main portion ofthe strip has been drawn through the slot and been tightened in the formof a loop about an article, looseningof the loop under the influence oflongitudinal stresses imparted thereto during tightening.

The elongated strip may also be formed on the end thereof opposite theenlarged end portion with a gripping portion having a width greater thanthat of the main portion. The two enlarged end portions of the thusformed strip have preferably a cylindrical configuration.

Such strips are preferably molded with the elongated strips extendingparallel to and spaced from each other and adjacent enlarged endportions of the strips connected by a plurality of narrow connectingportions integral with the enlarged end portions, which connectingportions may be easily severed to provide thus for a plurality ofseparate strips.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a partial top view of the tightening device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, partially sectioned side view of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIIII of FIG. 1 andviewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tightening device illustratedin FIGS. 1-3 applied in form of a loop to some articles;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the tightening deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line VIVI of FIG. 5 and viewed inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a further embodiment of the tightening deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned side view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 7 andviewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the application of thetightening device shown in FIGS. 7-9 to the end portion of a bag forclosing the latter;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10 and showing thetightening device tightened about the end portion of a bag;

FIG. 12 is a partially sectioned side view showing the embodiment ofFIG. 7 formed into a loop and schematically illustrating the manner ofopening the loop;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of yet another embodiment of the tighteningdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partially sectional side View of the embodiment shown inFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV- XV of FIG. 13 andviewed in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view illustrating a plurality of tighteningstrips according to the present invention connected together in themanner these strips are manufactured.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4 of thesame, it will be seen that the tightening device of the presentinvention illustrated in these figures comprises an elongated strip ofelastically stretchable material such as rubber or a suitable syntheticplastic material, which strip has a main portion 1 of preferablyrectangular cross-section of a width substantially greater than thethickness thereof. Spaced from the right end of the strip, as viewed inFIG. 1, the elongated strip is formed with a narrow portion of a widthsmaller than the main portion 1. At the left end, as viewed in FIG. 1,the strip is provided with an enlarged end portion 2 having a width andthickness greater than that of the main portion 1 so as to project witha part thereof beyond one main face of the strip as can be clearly seenfrom FIG. 2. The en larged end portion 2 is formed with an elongatedslot 3 of substantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinaldirection of the strip and having a transverse wide base portion 3a of across-section substantially equal to the cross-section of the mainportion 1 of the strip, and a narrow open central slot portion 3!)extending from the transverse base portion to the upper face of theenlarged portion 2. The narrow central slot portion 3b has a Widthsmaller than the width of the main portion 1, but greater than that ofthe narrow strip portion 5, so that the narrow strip portion 5 may beinserted through the narrow open central portion 312 of the slot and themain portion 1 then drawn in longitudinal direction through the baseportion 3a of the slot to form a loop with part of the main portionextending beyond the 100p. The loop thus formed may then be tightenedabout one or two articles 6a and 6b as shown in FIG. 4.

This loop may be loosened again by pulling the enlarged end portion 2towards the right, as viewed in FIG. 4, or, by gripping the end portion5 and pulling the same in a direction transverse to its elongation awayfrom the loop in which case, the shoulders 30 formed by the T-shapedslot 3 in the enlarged end portion 2 will flex outwardly while the mainportion 1 engaged in the slot will also curve transverse to itselongation so that the engaged main portion may be pulled out intransverse direction through the slot. Of course, the shoulders 30 haveto be formed strong enough so that the loop cannot accidentally openafter being tightened.

The right end portion of the strip, as shown in FIG. 1 may also beprovided with identification markings 4, which may, when the device ofthe present invention is used as an identification strip tightened abouta pair of grape vines as shown in FIG. 4, for instance indicate aspecific year. The markings may also consist of a plurality ofsuccessive numbers or any other symbols whereby some of the numbers orother symbols adjacent to the free end of the strip may be cut away toprovide for varying identification markings at the end of the strip;These identification markings may be embossed, or integrally molded inraised form at the end of the strip, or printed thereon.

The elongated strip may also be formed in the region of the right endthereof, as viewed in FIG. 1, with a projection 4a integral with thestrip to form a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the baseportion 3a of the T-shaped slot 3 in the enlarged end portion 2 of thestrip. In this way, two strips, at least one of which is provided withsuch a transverse projection 4a may be connected together by insertingthe narrow portion 5 of the strip provided with the projection 4a intothe T-shaped slot 3 of a second strip, pulling then the first striptoward the left as viewed in FIG. 1 until the projection 4a abutsagainst the enlarged end portion 2 of the second strip and finally,forming the thus combined strips into a loop by inserting the narrow endportion of the second strip into the T-shaped slot 3 of the first stripand pulling the main portion 1 of the second strip in longitudinaldirection through the base portion 3a of the T-shaped slot in the endportion of the first strip.

If it is desired to provide for more secure means against accidentalopening of the tightened loop, additional locking means may be providedon the main portion of the strip, and on the enlarged end portionthereof. Various modifications of such locking means are shown in FIGS.5-15.

The modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the modificationdescribed above, in that the main portion 1a of the strip is formed onopposite longitudinal edges thereof with sawtooth-shaped serrations 8and the wide base portion of the T-shaped slot 3 in the enlarged endportion 2a of the strip is provided with sawtooth-shaped projections 9projecting from opposite side faces of the transverse slot portiontoward each other. It will be noted that the serrations 8 on the mainportion 1a of the strip are slanted in a direction opposite to thedirection which the projections 9 are slanted, so that when theelongated strip is formed into a loop with the main portion 1a drawn inlongitudinal direction through the base portion 3a of the slot, theserrations 8 and the projections 9 will slightly flex during tighteningof the loop while the faces of the serrations 8 normal to thelongitudinal direction of the strip will engage the corresponding facesof the projections 9 to prevent reopening of the loop after tightening.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the narrow strip portion 5 is providedat the right end of the strip, as viewed in FIG. 5, and an additionalnarrow strip portion 7 is provided between the main portion 1a of thestrip and the enlarged end portion 2a. The enlarged end portion 2a ofthis modification may also be provided with a circular opening 30!extending from the base portion 3a of the T-shaped slot in a directionopposite to the direction which the central portion 3b extendstherefrom.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a further embodiment of the tightening deviceaccording to the present invention, FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate theapplication of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, to the end portion ofa bag for closing the same, and FIG. 12 schematically illustrates theopening of a loop formed by the tightening device shown in FIGS. 7-9.

The tightening device illustrated in the FIGS. 7-12 comprises also anelongated strip having a main portion 112 of substantially rectangularcross-section from which narrow strip portions 7 and 13 extend inopposite directions. These narrow strip portions 7 and 13 have each awidth smaller than that of the main portion 1b, and the narrow stripportion 13 has a thickness greater than that of the main portion 1b. Agripping portion 14 is provided at the right end, as viewed in FIG. 7,of the narrow strip portion 13 which gripping portion has a diametergreater than the width of the main portion 1b. An enlarged end portion2b is integrally formed with the free, or left end as viewed in FIG. 7,of the narrow strip portion 7, and the enlarged end portion 2b is formedwith an elongated slot 3 of substantially T-shaped cross-sectionextending in longitudinal direction of the strip and having a widetransverse base portion 3a of a cross-section substantially identical tothe cross-section of the main portion 11b of the strip and a narrowcentral slot portion 3b having a width greater than that of the narrowstrip portion 13, but smaller than that of the main portion 1b. Aplurality of saw-tooth shaped projections 10 are arranged longitudinallyspaced from each other on the face of the main portion 1b opposite theface of the enlarged end portion 2b toward which the central slotportion 3b opens. The enlarged end portion 2b is also formed with anopening 3d extending from the base portions 3a of the T-shaped slot inthe direction opposite to the narrow central slot portion toward theother face of the strip. A

bridging member 11 extends transverse through the opening 3d to form anabutment face for locking engagement with at least one of theprojections for preventing, after the main portion 1b of the strip hasbeen drawn through the T-shaped slot 3 and being tightened in form of aloop about an article, loosening of the loop. A flap 12 extends to theleft as viewed in FIG. 7, from the enlarged end portion 2b.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the application of the tightening deviceshown in FIGS. 79 to the end portion of a bag for closing the latter. Ascan be seen from FIG. 10 the elongated strip may be formed into a loopby inserting the narrow portion 13 of the elongated strip into theT-shaped slot of the end portion 2b. By gripping then the grippingportions 14 of the strip and pulling the same in the direction of thearrow 16, the main portion 1b of the strip will be pulled through thetransverse base portion of the slot 3 until the loop is properlytightened. In the tightened position of the loop, as shown in FIG. 12,two of the projections 10 will be located at opposite sides of thebridging member 11 with one tooth engaging the right transverse face, asviewed in FIG. 12, of the bridging member 11, and the other toothengaging the left face portion of the opening 3d.

To open the loop after tightening, the gripping portion 14 is pulled inthe direction as indicated by the arrow 17 of FIG. 12 away from the loopso as to flex the strip to the position shown in dash-dotted lineswhereby the part of the main strip portion 1b is pulled out of theT-shaped slot by slightly deflecting the shoulders 3c formed on theenlarged end portion 2b and by simultaneously deforming the stripportion 112 in transverse direction.

FIGS. 13-15 show a further modification of the tightening deviceaccording to the present invention. The elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material of the tightening device shown in FIGS. 13-15includes also a main portion 10 of substantially rectangularcross-section and a pair of narrow strip portions 5 and 7 extendingrespectively, from opposite ends of the main strip portion 10. Integralwith the left end of the narrow strip portion 7, as viewed in FIG, 13,is an enlarged end portion 2c of a width and thickness greater than thatof the main portion 10 so as to project with one part thereof beyond oneface of the strip. The enlarged end portion is formed in the projectingpart thereof with an elongated aperture 3' extending in longitudinaldirection of the strip and having a cross-section substantiallyidentical with that of the main portion 1c. The elongated aperture 3 isclosed at one side thereof by a preferably circular portion 18, whereasthe enlarged end portion is formed with an opening 3" extending from theaperture 3' toward the other face of the strip which opening forms atthe left side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 14, a first transverse abutmentface 19. A flap 12 extends from the enlarged end portion 20substantially in the plan of the strip and in a direction opposite tothe direction of the strip portion 7, and this flap is formed with asecond opening 29 forming a second transverse abutment face 19' spacedfrom the first abutment face 19. A plurality of saw-tooth shapedprojections 10 are arranged longitudinally spaced from each other andprojecting from the face of the main strip portion 10 toward which theopening 3" opens. The spacing of the abutment face 19 from the abutmentface 19' is substantially equal to the spacing of the teeth 10.

With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1315 the narrow end portion 5 has tobe drawn in longitudinal direc- FIGS. 13-15, the loop cannot be openedin the manner as shown in FIG. 12, and reopening of the loop can beaccomplished only by tearing the portion 18 from the end portion 20. Tofacilitate such severing of the portion 18, this portion may beconnected to the remainder of the enlarged end portion 20 by relativelyweak portions. Obviously, the tightening device as shown in FIGS. 13-15cannot be reused after the loop has been opened by tearing the portion18 from the remainder of the enlarged end portion 20.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates a plurality of tighten ing strips asshown in FIGS. 7l2 in which the strips are arranged substantiallyparallel and spaced from each other and in which the enlarged endportions 2b and 14 of adjacent strips are connected by narrow connectingportions 21. A plurality of such connecting strips as shown in FIG. 16may be conveniently molded into a single mold.

The lattice-like article thus obtained may be fed in a direction, asindicated by the arrow 22, in a stepwise manner to a packing machine inwhich the connecting portions 21 may be severed and in which each of thethus severed strips may automatically be formed into a loop andtightened about an end portion of a filled bag to close the same, asdescribed in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11.

It is one of the advantages of the tightening device of the presentinvention, especially of the tightening device as shown in FIGS. 1-12,that threading of the main portion of the strip through the slot of theenlarged end portion is greatly facilitated so that the whole operationcan be conveniently handled by relatively simple auto matic packingmachines.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types oftightening devices differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atightening device adapted to be tightened in the form of a loop about anarticle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reval the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of a given cross-section andin the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrow portionof a width smaller than that of said main portion, sa-id strip having atthe other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a width andthickness greater than that of said main portion and being formed withan elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction of said strip andhaving a wide transversely extending base portion having a cross-sectionsubstantially equal to said cross-section of said main portion of saidstrip and a narrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than thewidth of said main portion but greater than that of said narrow stripportion so that said narrow strip por tion may be inserted through saidnarrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion then drawnin longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form aloop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

2. A tightening device as defined in claim 1 and includingidentification markings on said one end of said strip.

3. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped crosssectionextending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a widetransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion sothat said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow opencentral portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn inlongitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loopwith part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which a short narrow strip portionis also formed between said enlarged end portion and said main stripportion.

5. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller and a thickness greater than that ofsaid main portion, said strip having at the other end thereof anenlarged end portion having a width and thickness greater than that ofsaid main portion and being formed with an elongated slot extending inlongitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transverselyextending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal tosaid cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow opencentral slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said mainportion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that saidnarrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open centralportion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinaldirection through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part ofsaid main portion extending beyond said loop.

6. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and having spaced from one end of said strip a narrowportion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said striphaving at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having a widthand thickness greater than that of said main portion and being formedwith an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped crosss-ection extendingin longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wide transverselyextending base portion having a cross-section substantially equal tosaid cross-section of said main portion of said strip and a narrow opencentral slot portion of a width smaller than the width of said mainportion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion so that saidnarrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow open centralportion of the slot and the main portion then drawn in longitudinaldirection through said base portion thereof to form a loop with part ofsaid main portion extending beyond said loop; and a projection integralwith said one end of said strip having a crosssection greater than thecross-section of said base portion of said slot.

7. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-sectionextending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a wdietransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion sothat said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow opencentral portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn inlongitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loopwith part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; and agripping portion integral with said one end of said strip and having awidth greater than that of said main portion.

8. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at opposite ends thereof cylindrical end portions eachhaving a diameter greater than the width of said main portion and atleast one having a thickness greater than that of the main portion ofsaid strip, said one end portion being formed with an elongated slotextending 1n longitudinal direction of said strip and having a widetransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a Width smaller than the width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion sothat said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow opencentral portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn inlongitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loopwith part of said main portion extending beyond said loop.

9. An article of manufacture comprising, in combination, a plurality ofelongated strips of elastically stretchable material arrangedsubstantially parallel to and spaced transversely from each other andeach including a main portion of substantially rectangular cross-sectionand in the region of and spaced from one end of said strip a narrowportion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said striphaving at opposite ends thereof cylindrical end portions each having adiameter greater than the width of said main portion and at least onehaving a thickness greater than that of the main portion of said strip,said one end portion being formed with an elongated slot ofsubstantially T-shaped cross-section extending in longitudinal directionof said strip and having a wide transversely extending base portionhaving a cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of saidmain portion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of awidth smaller than the width of said main portion but greater than thatof said narrow strip portion; and a plurality of narrow connectingportions integral with and connecting adjacent enlarged end portions ofsaid strips to each other.

10. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-sectionextending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a widetransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the Width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion sothat said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow opencentral portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn inlongitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loopwith part of said main portion extending beyond said loop and a flapextending from said enlarged end portion substantially in the plane ofsaid strip and in a direction opposite to the direction of said mainstrip portion.

11. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcrosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinal direction ofsaid strip and having a wide transversely extending base portion havinga cross-section substantially equal to said cross-section of said mainportion of said strip and a narrow open central slot portion of a widthsmaller than the width of said main portion but greater than that ofsaid narrow strip portion so that said narrow strip portion may beinserted through said narrow open central portion of the slot and themain portion then drawn in longitudinal direction through said baseportion thereof to form a loop with part of said main portion extendingbeyond said loop; a plurality of sawtooth shaped serrations formed onsaid main portion of said strip; and abutment means on said enlarged endportion for locking engagement with said serrations for preventing,after said main portion has been drawn through said slot and beentightened in form of a loop about an article, loosening of said loop.

12. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcrosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-sectionextending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a widetransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion,said transverse base portion of said slot tapering toward said mainstrip portion so that said narrow strip portion may be inserted throughsaid narrow open central portion of the slot and the main portion thendrawn in longitudinal direction through said base portion thereof toform a loop with part of said main portion extending beyond said loop;and a plurality of saw-tooth shaped serrations formed at least along onelongitudinal edge of said main portion of said strip.

13. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcross-section and in the region of and spaced from one end of said stripa narrow portion of a Width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion having awidth and thickness greater than that of said main portion and beingformed with an elongated slot of substantially T-shaped cross-sectionextending in longitudinal direction of said strip and having a widetransversely extending base portion having a cross-section substantiallyequal to said cross-section of said main portion of said strip and anarrow open central slot portion of a width smaller than the width ofsaid main portion but greater than that of said narrow strip portion sothat said narrow strip portion may be inserted through said narrow opencentral portion of the slot and the main portion then drawn inlongitudinal direction through said base portion thereof to form a loopwith part of said main portion extending beyond said loop; a pluralityof sawtooth-like projections formed in said transverse base portion ofsaid slot and projecting from side faces of said slot portion towardeach other; and a plurality of sawtooth-like serrations formed onopposite side edges of said main portion for locking engagement withsaid saw-tooth-like projections when said main portion is drawn throughsaid slot and tightened in loop form about an article, whereby saidserrations engaging said projections will prevent loosening of saidloop.

14. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article comprising, in combination, an elongated strip of elasticallystretchable material having a main portion of substantially rectangularcrosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end a narrowportion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, said striphaving at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion of a width andthickness greater than that of said main portion, said enlarged endportion being formed with an elongated slot of substantially T- shapedcross-section extending in longitudinal direction of said strip andhaving a wide transverse base portion of a cross-section substantiallyidentical to said crosssection of said main portion of said strip and anarrow central slot portion opening toward one face of said enlarged endportion and having a width greater than that of said narrow stripportion but smaller than that of said main strip portion; a plurality ofsaw-tooth shaped projections longitudinally arranged on the face of saidmain portion of said strip opposite said one face toward which saidcentral slot portion opens; and abutment means on said enlarged endportion of said strip for locking engagement with at least one of saidprojections for preventing loosening of said loop after said mainportion of said strip has been drawn through said slot and has beentightened in the form of a loop about an article.

15. A tightening device adapted to be tightened in form of a loop aboutan article, comprising, in combination, an elongated strip ofelastically stretchable material having a main portion of substantiallyrectangular crosssection and in the region of and spaced from one end anarrow portion of a width smaller than that of said main portion, saidstrip having at the other end thereof an enlarged end portion of a widthand thickness greater than that of said main portion, said enlarged endportion being formed with an elongated slot extending in longitudinaldirection of said strip and having a wide transverse base portion of across-section substantially identical to said cross-section of said mainportion of said strip and a narrow central slot portion opening towardone face of said enlarged end portion and having a width greater thanthat of said narrow strip portion but smaller than that of said mainstrip portion, said enlarged end portion being also formed with anopening extending from said base portion of said slot in a directionopposite to said narrow central slot portion toward the other face ofsaid strip; a plurality of saw-tooth shaped projections longitudinallyarranged on the face of said main portion of said strip opposite saidone face toward which said central slot portion opens; and a bridgingmember extending transverse through said opening and forming an abutmentface for locking engagement with one of said projections for preventingloosening of said loop after said main portion of said strip has beendrawn through said slot and has been tightened in the form of a loop2,361,506 about an article. 2,470,402 2,548,104 References Cited in thefile of this patent 2,900,696 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,619,803 BehrmanMar. 8, 1927 5 1 2,142,770 Wied Jan. 3, 1939 3 049,771

2,201,139 Ivey May 21, 1940 12. Smith Oct. 31, 1944 Jobst May 17, 1949Prison Apr. 10, 1951 Bacon Aug. 25, 1959 Wrobel Dec. 1, 1959 Rapata May17, 1960 Rifkin Mar. 28, 1961 Litwin et a1. Aug. 21, 1962

1. A TIGHTENING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE TIGHTENED IN FORM OF A LOOP ABOUT AN ARTICLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED STRIP OF ELASTICALLY STRETCHABLE MATERIAL HAVING A MAIN PORTION OF A GIVEN CROSS-SECTION AND IN THE REGION OF AND SPACED FROM ONE END OF SAID STRIP A NARROW PORTION OF A WIDTH SMALLER THAN THAT OF SAID MAIN PORTION, SAID STRIP HAVING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF AN ENLARGED END PORTION HAVING A WIDTH AND THICKNESS GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID MAIN PORTION AND BEING FORMED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID STRIP AND HAVING A WIDE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BASE PORTION HAVING A CROSS-SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID CROSS-SECTION OF SAID MAIN PORTION OF SAID STRIP AND A NARROW OPEN CENTRAL SLOT PORTION OF A WIDTH SMALLER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID MAIN PORTION BUT GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID NARROW STRIP PORTION SO THAT SAID NARROW STRIP PORTION MAY BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID NARROW OPEN CENTRAL PORTION OF THE SLOT AND THE MAIN PORTION THEN DRAWN IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THROUGH SAID BASE PORTION THEREOF TO FORM A LOOP WITH PART OF SAID MAIN PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND SAID LOOP. 